Mid-week snowstorm expected to cause tricky travel in Maine

PORTLAND (WGME)— Snow is headed to Maine on Wednesday night with tricky travel conditions expected across the state on Thursday morning. Things then turn frigid for the end of the week with widespread below zero wind chills.

Tuesday looks decent with a cold and sunny start with more afternoon clouds. There is also the potential for a few flurries or snow showers Tuesday afternoon, highs will be in the mid 30s.

Wednesday will start out cold and sunny, with cloudy skies by the afternoon. Highs will be in the low to mid 30s.

A storm system then arrives Wednesday evening, and ramps up Wednesday night.

• TIMING: precipitation will be scattered and light before midnight, becoming widespread and heavy at times after midnight. It will likely start as some rain along the coast with all snow inland, and coastal areas likely switch over to some snow by the morning commute Thursday. Snow or rain wraps up later Thursday morning, heaviest precipitation will likely be 12am-9am Thursday.

• TOTALS: Coastal areas see the least with a coating to an inch or 2, though this comes during the morning commute in a quick timeframe with slick travel expected. Areas away from the coast get a general 2-4″, higher totals are likely north of Augusta and into the mountains with 3-6″, highest totals will be towards northern and eastern Maine and in the highest elevations with 5-9″.

Frigid air then moves in for Friday with highs only in the 20s. Wind chills will remain below 10 for most all day, and some will see below zero wind chills. It will be very windy, there will likely be areas of blowing snow and there could even be a few scattered outages with gusts to 40+ mph possible.

There is potential for more light snow this weekend with another clipper system, but the chance of this is quite low. Otherwise it will be chilly with temps in the 20s and 30s and overall quiet conditions.

Milder temps look to move in next week, with our next potential storm system towards next Tuesday. What this system will entail for Maine remains to be seen.